Interactive Learning Environment - Assignment Example

Interactive Learning Environment Introduction Interactive learning environment is fundamentally described as a web-based environment that broadly supports communication or contact between communities of different levels of learners. This particular conception i.e. interactive learning environment has evolved appreciably in this modern day context due to increased level of usage of digital technology as well as virtual communication. The prime objective of an interactive learning environment is to build effective communications as well as interrelations with various learners in a community. Furthermore, the other goals of an interactive learning environment are enhancing greater access towards information and communication technology (ICT) for all individuals, increasing flexibility of responding to different future needs and most significantly enhancing functional associations within a community (Virtual School, n.d.). A detailed analysis of one of the interactive learning environments i.e. Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) will be taken into concern in this paper. Various aspects such as the capabilities and the advantages along with the disadvantages of this particular interactive learning environment will also be discussed in the paper. Description of MUVEs and Its Relevance to a Learner MUVEs are typically viewed as a popular structure of multimedia-based entertainment. It has been apparently observed that MUVEs are broadly executed in the field of education. The relevance of MUVEs to a learner can be determined by focusing upon its usage particularly in the area of education. In this similar context, MUVEs are enthusiastically employed in education for broad assortment of reasons. The reasons include generating online communities for the learners in order to provide greater opportunities relating to their professional advancements, involving in science-based activities with the intention of fostering communally responsive behaviors and supporting the learners to promote their moral as well as social developments through enrichment of societal cultures or cultural values. In addition, MUVEs are also used in education for delivering an environment of programming as well as collaboration, artistically discovering new mathematical perceptions and most importantly engrossing in any sort of scientific enquiry. The educational based MUVEs are especially designed for the learners in order to support their conceptual understanding along with enquiry-based learning. It has been viewed that MUVEs not only aid the learners in enhancing their knowledge on virtual learning environment but also guides them in attaining active support from the teachers who assist them in developing their career by a significant level. The different facets of MUVEs that comprise accessing diverse virtual contexts, establishing effective communication with other participants and interacting with various modernized digital artifacts ultimately prove to be quite relevant for a learner to advance his or her career in the field of education (Dieterle & Clarke, n.d.). Capabilities of MUVEs One of the dynamic capabilities of MUVEs is to provide a better platform of teaching for the learners by using the idea of virtual worlds in the field of education. In this regard, the notion of virtual worlds is often viewed as one of the supportive instruments in developing the learning atmosphere of the learners. It supports the learners in demonstrating composite scientific concepts in a better manner, facilitating superior learning autonomy and offering improved learning experience by suitably utilizing the pioneering technological advancements. The role of virtual worlds within the learning environment of MUVEs ultimately has delivered a new dimension in relation to technologically developed learning. The other major capability of MUVEs is to provide intrinsically motivating as well as appealing learning experiences to the students or the learners by the execution of various emerging technological advancements. This particular capability of MUVEs has eventually attracted as well as gained the interest as well as the attention of the learners to reap the benefits and mitigate the issues that emerge in different complex situations. Professional development of the learners or students is generally considered to be another capability of MUVEs. The learners can develop their skills as well as competencies within the scenario of MUVEs by involving themselves in different science-based activities, productively investigating advanced mathematical ideas and interacting with pioneering digital artifacts. Another capability of MUVEs can be recognized as the preservation of student involvement particularly in higher education learning. In this similar concern, MUVEs support the learners and ensure their greater involvement in the higher education learning by introducing sophisticated coursework as well as learning environment (Perera, Allison, Nicoll, Sturgeon, & Miller, 2010). Advantages and Disadvantages of MUVEs One of the major advantages of MUVEs is greater interactivity. In this similar context, MUVEs enable the learners to interact with other participants by generating online communities. The other advantage of MUVEs is providing the opportunity of professional development to the learners by offering them a learning atmosphere of collaboration as well as programming. The aspect of discover learning is also regarded as one of the vital advantages of MUVEs. It delivers an opportunity to the learners by creating knowledge as well as meaning from their past experiences. Another benefit of MUVEs is successful simulation of real circumstances that occurs mainly through accessing various virtual contexts and networking with advanced digital artifacts. It can be stated that considerable hardware demands can be one of the critical disadvantages of MUVEs. Moreover, the other disadvantage of MUVEs is increased level of technological dependency due to extensive generation of online communities. Another disadvantage of MUVEs has been recognized to be shortage of face-to-face interaction. Finally, it can be stated that the maximum time expend in accessing computers within the background of MUVEs can also be considered as another noticeable disadvantage of MUVEs as this practice imposes serious impact upon the health of an individual by a greater extent (Vincenti & Braman, 2011). Conclusion MUVEs play an imperative role in the area of education by offering dynamic opportunities to the learners or students by which they can develop their learning environment by a considerable level. The different vibrant capabilities of MUVEs include successfully exploring the learning environment through the creation of online communities and effectively inspecting digital objects among others. The major benefits of MUVEs encompass greater interaction and efficient simulation of real situations. Conversely, the critical disadvantages of MUVEs encompass increased level of technical dependency and deficiency in face-to-face interaction. By considering the advantages as well as the disadvantages of MUVEs, it can be concluded that the interactive learning environments are gradually transforming the perceptions of the learners by a considerable extent. References Dieterle, E., & Clarke, J. (n.d.). Multi-user virtual environments for teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://muve.gse.harvard.edu/rivercityproject/documents/MUVE-for-TandL-Dieterle-Clarke.pdf Perera, I., Allison, C., Nicoll, J. R., Sturgeon, T., & Miller, A. (2010). Managed learning in 3D multi user virtual environments. International Journal of Digital Society (IJDS) 1(4), pp.256-264. Virtual School. (n.d.). Interactive learning environment (ILE). Retrieved from http://virtualschool.edu/ile/ Vincenti, G., & Braman, J. (2011). Multi-user virtual environments for the classroom: practical approaches to teaching in virtual worlds. United States: Idea Group Inc (IGI). Read More